For Liberty

Script · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Script** on Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:01 pm

Begin Transmission...

Enter Password...

******************

Password Correct, loading transmission...

Location: Planet Meridia, human colony located on outskirts of Rovex system, Status: Glassed

Time: 4.37 AM

Date: March 19th, Year 2199

Transmission loaded, commencing display...

"We are ready to exit warp, master." a weak and sniveling voice said, the speaker a hunched and scarred figure, naked but for a loincloth to preserve its decency and a hideous black collar around its neck, spiked and glowing with foul energies. A dozen of its like were arrayed behind it, all of the same hunched and subservient posture, all ready to serve at the slightest gesture. The creatures could, at a glance, be mistaken for humans; their skin was a pale pink, darkened by dirt and gore, and a thin layer of hair topped their scalps. But these things were in no way human, perhaps they had been once, before the arm of The Dread Queen touched them and twisted their beings, but they were human no longer.

Upon a raised area of the dark and echoing chamber, a figure stood. He was clothed in heavy power armor, black as night and covered with crimson red runes that screamed blasphemy and pained the eyes to focus on. A blood red cloak trailed on the ground behind him, and a horned helmet was tucked under his mighty arm, his thick black hair falling freely over his shoulders.

This figure was the one whom the creature had addressed, and in response to the news, he chuckled; a venomous and sadistic laugh that chilled the creature's blood. "Excellent news, most excellent news." he said, his voice deep and malicious. "Alert the Archons to prepare the fleet. We will feast on the poor creatures' fear. A feast to remember." he ordered.

"Y... yes, great one, your wish is my desire." the creature whimpered, before scurrying away, followed by the others of its like.

The man remained, staring into the seeming nothingness before him. He knew better though, and falling to one knee, he spoke "Mighty one, we go to the slaughter in your name, may each death we cause, each scream of agony be dedicated to you, our mighty Queen." he said, eyes to the floor so as not to blaspheme by laying eyes upon the Dread Queen.

From the darkness, another voice came, reptilian and sinister "Well done, my champion. You go to the Slaughter with the Dread Queen's blessing. Now go! Send me their souls...."

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In the skies above Meridia, a black cloud was forming, darker than any rain cloud, any thunderhead. In the midst of the cloud, an echoing shock wave louder than any clap of thunder sounded, shattering the glass in the windows of the city below, City Beta, a thriving metropolis, a centre of trade and celebration. In the center, a red line split the cloud, widening into a pulsating vortex of screams and chaos. From this vortex, the fleet of the Archons emerged, hundreds of twisted and horrific ships as black as the hearts of their pilots and crew, propelled by hideous fire that burst from their engines and polluted the atmosphere.

In the midst of these craft, a gargantuan ship began to emerge, dwarfing the other ships and seeming closer to the city itself in size, spanning several miles. From this hideous ship, decked with weapons, runes and horrific shapes, a booming voice came "This is the fleet of the Archons, the fist of the Dread Queen herself. There will be no offer of surrender. There will be no quarter given. You will all die in the purging fire of our Queen." it echoed.

Moments later, the ship fired. A massive beam of hellish energies shot down from the monstrosity's main weapon, striking in the center of the city and vaporizing all it touched in an instant, buildings, vehicles and people alike. From the point of impact, a wave of fire and force rippled outwards, crimson fire, unnatural in hue and in the sheer devastation it left behind. Where the fire passed, buildings were reduced to rubble, citizens were burnt to a charred husk. Life was extinguished utterly.

As the rest of the ships in the fleet opened fire, it was not long before all that was left of the city was a smoking ruin. Every single citizen had died screaming. It was a slaughter. It was a total success.

With a roar of triumph, the fleet made its slow and steady way to the next city, burning and destroying any sign of life in its path, forests, lakes, villages. All were destroyed. Every city was purged. No life was left, no possibility of life was left.

In the dark chamber in the center of the Great Hellion, the gargantuan ship in the center of the fleet, the Dread Queen laughed. Death had come to the Galaxy, and it was unstoppable.

End Transmission.

From the chamber at the center of the Starship Liberty, the Supreme Commander of Earth's Galactic forces turned from the screen with a grimace "So. Now you know what we are up against." he said - of course the screen had only shown the events from the point of view of one of the denizens, none of the goings on inside the ship, but the devastation was clear enough - "This 'Dread Queen' must be stopped before she destroys another of our colonies. This is the single greatest threat that humanity, or any of our races have encountered. Are there any questions?" he asked, folding his arms and awaiting a reply.

white_saber · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **white_saber** on Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:28 pm

Commander Haskell turned away in stunned silence, attempting to take in the information he had just received. All the months of preparation for this mission, he'd known it would be something big. But, he'd never imagined the Dread. No one had ever escaped from the Dread; snippets of transmission picked up by travelers detailing a great power of incredible strength and technological prowess named the 'Dread'.

When he turned back it was with a resolution that can only be gained from countless battles that he nodded to the supreme commander and logged off. Turning and exiting his chamber he inwardly groaned and headed for the building where the interviews were being held on the Space Station Vermire.

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:48 pm

Vaakat Shi'rilli Tukash Lupeer lent against one of the walls in the Space Station Vermire. He had his arms folded across his broad chest, and his right leg folded over his left at the shin. His eyes scanned the hallway, checking each figure who walked past him, as if waiting for someone. Every few seconds, Vaakat would look from the side to side, in case he had not heard someone turn either corner and it was the human he was waiting for.

Vaakat opened his mouth and breathed in heavily, looking upward at the roof, his chest heaving inwards. He shut his eyes tightly, and exhaled sharply. As he did so a rumbling motion vibrated from the small protective satchel on his belt. Lowering his head to look downward, Vaakat slid one of his hands under the flap of the satchel and pulled a flat, hand held machine from it. The arm still crossed across his chest made a rest for his other elbow as he held the device in his line of sight. Reading the information on the Data-Link screen, Vaakat mumbled to himself aloud. "...wanted...Sol system...5000..."

Pressing the 'Cancel' button with his thumb, Vaakat slid his Data-Link into his satchel and growled rather loudly. This better not take long. That guy is only a couple of planets way. He shook his head, annoyed that he couldn't head after the new bounty. If I don't get to that guy first. I'm going to be pissed at whoever dragged me here. He thought, glaring from side to side, expecting to see the human who may have cost him an easy bounty of 5000.

Script · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Script** on Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:26 pm

From around the corner, a suited woman appeared, carrying a clipboard and walking briskly. She snapped her fingers as she passed Vaakat, "Vaakat Lupeer I assume, follow me." she said simply, continuing walking without waiting for a response. Her black hair was drawn tightly in a bun, and her skirt was long and below the knee, her jacket and shirt up to her neck. Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked, staring straight ahead with her sharp eyes. "Keep up, we don't have all day." she said, as if she had been the one kept waiting.

She led him to a small interview room, with a single desk with a seat on either side. "Sit here, Commander Haskell will join you shortly. Don't touch anything." she instructed, placing the clipboard down on the desk facing away from Vaakat's seat before turning around abruptly and leaving the room.

The room was plain, with white walls and tiled flooring, and no furniture besides the desk and two chairs, it was an interview room and nothing else, Vermire wasn't successful because of fancy decoration, it was simply designed and got the job done. From a small speaker in the wall, elevator music played quietly in the background while Vaakat waited, but otherwise most of the buzz from the corridor was cut off when the woman closed the door.

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Wed Aug 26, 2009 5:46 pm

Vaakat sat in the plain white chair as the human woman left the room, shutting the door behind her. He lent back in the chair, his feet resting against the legs of the chair opposite his. Resting one of his forearms onto the table, Vaakat began rapping his fingers rhythmically; he then lent his other arm atop the other and stared at the doorway.

Who am I waiting for? Vaakat thought, trying to remember what the woman had said to him before she left. Commander Haskell, he remembered suddenly. As he waited, the bounty hunter tried to recall if he knew the name Haskell, but his limited knowledge of Humanity and it's Military failed him. I guess I'll have to wait and see who this man is, he scowled as he thought of not knowing why he was waiting, or even who he was waiting for. He didn't like wasting his time.

Alone with his thoughts, Vaakat began to think about his situation in depth. He realized he hadn't questioned why he was here at all. Something widely uncharacteristical of him. It must be a pretty hefty bounty, he thought. Usually they just send a message via Data-Link. It can't possibly be anything greater than that. Who would want a disgraced general... he stopped himself thinking about what had happened on Gashrat and continued to stare at the door.

Mkkidd · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Mkkidd** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:48 am

((Mind if I join? it looks like alot of fun))

white_saber · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **white_saber** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:14 am

Haskell strode into the room brusquely, slamming the door closed behind him - much to the shock of his escort. He sat down on the metal stool opposite Vaakat, spreading the contents of a folder the length of the desk. He examined it for a moment, bending over the papers to allow his aging eyes a better view. He sat back up in his seat. "You are Vaakat Shi'rilli Tukash Lupeer and Former General of the Evemorran Fleet?" He questioned mechanically.

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:44 am

Vaakat recoiled slightly as the human commander spread several files and documents over the table. He lent back from the table as the Commander examined the documents for a second. Vaakat inhaled deeply after the phrase 'Former General', but knew he had to confirm his identity and get this over with.

Looking the Commander in the eye Vaakat nodded his head slightly. "That I am"... he paused for a second before adding "But that's behind me know. I'm just a bounty hunter now. I find them, kill them, get payed." He said, clearly diverting his past into his present. He wasn't proud of being a bounty hunter, but it sure beat introducing himself as a disgraced general.

Script · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Script** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:59 am

((Mkkidd, you have posted your request to join in the IN CHARACTER thread, please delete your post or get a mod to do so, and post in the OOC Thread with your profile))

Katy Lockhart, high ranking mercenary, well known for her flawless record of missions, stood in one of the many lobbies of Vermire, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently. She had already gone through her interview, which was really only a formality as each potential member of Liberty had been approached by the Military, rather than the other way around. It had essentially served as a way to learn a bit about what the mission was about, it was apparently a matter of galactic security and all that jazz.

Beside her, staring at seemingly nothing, stood Aiedail, a high powered synthetic woman, designed for battle and battle alone. She had also gone through the interview, though she had been slightly bemused by its necessity, formalities weren't quite on her radar - the concept of it didn't make sense to her somewhat childlike mind.

The pair were together by association, having already determined that they were both there for the same reason. Besides the trickling of the large fountain in the center of the lobby and the occasional splash of one of the fish, the only noise was the tapping of the receptionist on her computer. A potted plant stood in the corner of the room, looking slightly out of place in the bland room, and plain blue chairs lined the wall and encircled the fountain. All in all, it was very much reminiscent of a doctor's surgery.

"So." Katy said, attempting to strike conversation for the third time so far, "What sort of company do you think we'll have? Who else do you think they'll have hired?"

Aiedail blinked, coming out of her little bubble of thought "Hmm? Oh, I assume more reputable mercenaries or the like. I hear that we're being led by Commander Haskell though." she replied, brushing a strand of hair that had been caught by the breeze from the ceiling fan out of her eyes.

"Haskell eh? The military's own personal not-really-a-child prodigy." Katy said, smiling slightly "Guess they weren't kidding about the whole galactic security side of things..."

white_saber · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **white_saber** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:23 am

"Can you tell me about your work? Why do you think we've selected you?" You could tell that he was not requesting but demanding an answer. He sat back with a grimace on his face as if he was trying to grasp with what it was that sat before him.

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:38 am

"My work?" Vaakat questioned. He wasn't sure whether the human meant his work as a bounty hunter, or his work with the Evemorran military, but he guessed it must have been the latter. Inhaling deeply before speaking about his past, Vaakat bowed his head. He wasn't a truly humble man, but when he spoke of his disgraced career he had to feel sorrow and regret.

"I was a Commander of the land forces after Azsmore." The Evemorran paused after he spoke of Azsmore. He breathed deeply, shutting his eyes and bowing his head. Re-opening his eyes, he looked up and continued. "After Azsmore I was made a Commander of the land troops. I served my nation and my empire." Vaakat looked down at the documents on the table, he wanted to know what they said about him. But he couldn't read them upside down. "After my. After my discharge." He gritted his teeth with anger. "I moved around a lot. I settled on Saturn and became a bounty hunter. It's easy money."

white_saber · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **white_saber** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:00 am

"Right." He sat for a moment, mulling it over. "Well, that seems to cover everything. We had a few worries but I think we can safely say that you made the bill. Now if you'll me we'll meet with the rest of the crew for the briefing." With that he collected up his files and stowed them in his satchel. He stood up and knocked on the door, after a couple of seconds the door buzzed and was pulled open from the other side. He walked out and gestured for the Evemorran to follow.

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:10 am

Vaakat pushed his chair backward and stood upright, standing back he pushed the chair back under the table and made after the Human. He didn't understand what Haskell had meant by 'Made the Bill,' it must have been a human expression, but he followed anyway.

Walking outside the interview room, Vaakat noticed the change in the atmosphere from room to room. The interview room was quiet, and seemed alone. But out in the lobby it was wide open, and Vaakat could hear people talking, the tapping of the receptionists keys. Vaakat smiled ever so slightly, rolling his shoulders backward and relaxing.

"So. Commander. What is it exactly you need me for? I was never told." Vaakat asked, looking from the fountain in the center, to the Commander. "It must be some bounty if I needed an interview."

white_saber · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **white_saber** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:20 am

Commander Haskell suddenly stopped and turned to the Evemorran with a frustrated look - his escort carried on marching for several metres before realising he'd stopped, "You will be sufficiently rewarded for your services. Any more questions or can we go to the briefing?" Brushing aside the question about the mission.

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:45 am

Vaakat shook his head to the side, shutting his eyes as he did so, and opening them on completion of the gesture. "Go on." He said, sensing the human's frustration and wanting to avoid an argument. He was beginning to think that this wasn't about a Bounty or a criminal who needed taking care of after all. Vaakat gestured for the Human to continue to the briefing room.

I just hope the briefing is informative. He thought, following the Human. Vaakat looked down at the Commander, examining him as they walked. This man must be important to the Human's. He must have talent.

white_saber · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **white_saber** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:42 pm

Haskell nodded and turned, walking away across the lobby. He entered an elevator and inserted a key card into a slot on the panel. The elevator rocketed down before stopping abruptly, the doors opened and the party stepped out onto a spacious corridor with large viewing panels that looked out the bottom of the station - they were in orbit around Saturn and bits of debris rocketed past the window, miner's ships could be seen in transit between the planet's uninhabitable surface and the station. On their right, the 2 other interviewees were waiting; "Follow me please," said Haskell, walking past them.

He stepped through a door at the end of the corridor and was greeted by a suited woman who handed him a folder. They walked past a large glass panel on the left, looking over a control room where people sat at banks of computers; they came to a small auditorium and the recruits took seats in the audience next to other people of varying origins while Commander Haskell and the suited lady stepped up to a podium in front of a large screen. "I would like you to meet the project co-ordinator - Miss Wei. She will brief you on your mission, then please voice any concerns you have." He left the podium and stood in the shadows reading the reports Miss Wei gave him, with one eye on the podium. The folders were identical to the one with the files on Vakaat.

Script · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Script** on Thu Aug 27, 2009 5:19 pm

Kimura Wei was a short asian woman with tidy black hair that fell to her lower neck in a simple bobcut, she was an ex-soldier, and now worked behind the lines as the coordinator for many military projects, including the liberty. She stepped up to the podium, her heels clicking on the floor, and adjusted her glasses as she placed a few papers down on top of it.

"Good afternoon." she said to the assembled crew and soldiers, some of whom had been in the room for a while before the latest candidates entered with the commander. "As you all know, you are here because you are the best. You have each been handpicked from the mercenary organisations, the many bounty hunters in the galaxy, and your various races' militaries. You were chosen and informed that you were picked for a secret military project and mission, though you were not informed of the mission's nature. Well, I can now inform you that the galaxy is under threat from the Dread Empire. You may or may not have heard of them, but they are responsible for the devastation and enslavement of entire star systems, and so far have proved to be unstoppable. This is your job, to stop them. Where fleets and armies have failed, a small strike team has a chance, to infiltrate behind the lines of their fleets and take them apart from the inside." she explained, pressing a button on a small remote to activate the holographic projector, that displayed scenes similar to that of Meridia in the background while she continued to speak.

"You have all gone through an interview process, but that was simply a formality, we have the utmost confidence in your abilities as extensive research has gone into each and every one of you before your selection. You will of course have the full support of humanity's military behind you, at such times as you can take advantage of that, but when you are in Dread Empire space, we cannot help you." she continued, before pressing another button to switch the holographic display to that of a plan of the Starship Liberty

The ship was a sleek and streamlined shape, with a new age technological look to it that made it obvious that it was brand new. To its rear were the powerful jets that drove it, the first full size ship in the human fleet capable of achieving warp speeds entirely without the aid of a relay. Along the sides and to the front were numerous weapons, ranging from missile launchers to photon blasters to plasma cannons. "As you can see, the Liberty is the peak of military technology to date, it combines combat effectivity with speed and stealth, it is heavily armed as well as capable of achieving warp, and has the most effective cloaking technology that we have been able to develop, it literally drops off of the radar. The Warp can get you into Dread Empire space where no relay could, and hopefully out again upon successful completion of the objective." she continued.

"You will be leaving immediately, please collect your belongings and report to docking bay 12 within the hour. Good luck. You're our last hope."

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:03 am

Vaakat rested his elbows on his armrests, and held his chin in one hand as he listened. 'The Dread?' He wracked his brain for experiences of the Dread. He had heard stories as a young boy of the Dread and what they were capable of, but during his Military years on the fronts he hadn't heard much.

From what the woman had said, they were a very real threat. A threat that he would have to combat very soon. Listening carefully, Vaakat stumbled his hand on his chin and gawked at the woman leading the briefing. 'Into the Dread Empire?' He gave a slight shake of his head seriously. He'd been on some missions which seemed impossible before; during the Civil-War he had taken a strike team behind the rebel forces, but an entire empire?

When Miss Wei dismissed all the soldiers, Vaakat stood with the rest of the group. He was taller than most of the room, and felt slightly out of place, but he wouldn't be staying long anyway. Being a Bounty Hunter wasn't so bad, it wouldn't get him killed tracking down singular criminals. As the group stood, Vaakat looked above everyone's heads for the exit. Seeing an exit on the far wall, he made his way towards it.

'I'd rather live with the shame of Gashrat than walk into my death.' He thought as he walked towards the door.

white_saber · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **white_saber** on Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:56 am

Haskell saw the Evemorran heading for the exit and jumped up onto the podium, "I'd just like to remind everyone that anyone who chooses to accept the mission will be rewarded very handsomely." 'If he's like any other mercenary I've met...' thought Haskell. "And will be rewarded with the Military Medal of Honor, First Degree - Our highest level of prestige on Earth," he added remembering the Evemorran's past.

Horsk · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Horsk** on Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:06 am

Vaakat stopped at the doorway upon hearing the new, almost hurried, announcement. He held his hand to his forehead as he paused, massaging his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.

'The chance of fatality is high. But the reward is substantial.' He kept telling himself in his head. He was never a greedy man, he always valued helping his Empire succeed and flourish. 'I was banished from Gahsrat. I need to live for me and me alone.' He thought, in a sharp burst of greed. Vaakat had never thought such a thing in his life, he was raised to value the Empire and his kind, moreso than himself. 'Aiding the Evemorran Empire' he thought, trying to figure out his place in the group. 'Aiding the galactic Empire,' the Evemorran pondered this new thought in his head for a second, before turning back to face the podium.

'Vaakat Shi'rilli Tukash Lupeer this is one of the stupidest things you have ever done.' He sighed heavily to himself. Secretly thinking that he maybe offered reconciliation with the Evemorran officials if he aided the Galactic cause, so he could return to his position in the military.

For Liberty

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